Is there a particular conflict in history you would have liked to participate in?

2018-10-03T13:15:26-04:00

Let’s face it. Some folks get energized in the heat of battle. Thinking back to armies, navies and cavalry, etc throughout all of history amd all cultures....is there a perticular conflict you would have liked to serve in, or any particular military unit you would have liked the opportunity to be part of? What conflict? What unit? And why?

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Oct 3 at 2018 1:17 PM

2018-10-03T13:17:32-04:00

Always like reading about battles in Europe, during Napolean's time .

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Oct 3 at 2018 1:49 PM

2018-10-03T13:49:19-04:00

Two come to mind immediately,Gettysburg and Waterloo, definitely not as a participant only as an observer have read extensively on both and find them fascinating.

Response by LCpl Shane Couch made Oct 3 at 2018 1:59 PM

2018-10-03T13:59:30-04:00

I'm not sure if i would liked to have been there (participating in or watching) but I have always been interested in what happened at Lindisarfne. Vikings didn't keep the best written accounts on things until Iceland. Also most accounts are from those that were being attacked, so naturally I think embellishments would have been added. But just to be a fly on the wall during this invasion would be great for me.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Oct 3 at 2018 2:38 PM

2018-10-03T14:38:09-04:00

I’m a history buff and I love all aspects of military history and Western Civilization. However, I’ve concluded that I would not like to travel back to any time that did not have an abundant supply of toilet paper. (Probably soap & antibiotics, as well.) So, with that in mind, I’d like to see the Aleutian Islands Campaign. My grandfather was there and never talked about his experience during WWII. Also, there’s not a lot written about it. Okay, okay...if I didn't have to stay very long, perhaps the Battle of Gravelines, Battle of Trafalgar, Battle of Hampton Roads, or onboard the Bonhomme Richard with JP Jones. Great question!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2018 2:57 PM

2018-10-03T14:57:55-04:00

Not that I would like to participate, but certainly be able to go back in time to observe:
The Battle of Thermopylae
The Batter of Marathon
The Battle of the Alamo
The Battle of Hastings
The Battles of Sterling Bridge and Falkirk

Response by Sgt John Steinmeier made Oct 3 at 2018 3:32 PM

2018-10-03T15:32:33-04:00

Possibly the French Revolution, that way I could eat cake

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Oct 3 at 2018 3:36 PM

2018-10-03T15:36:05-04:00

Tough one. For local reasons the Battles of Lexington, Concord and the march back to Boston, or the Battle of Bunker Hill, would be fascinating. Another option would be the Cortez's campaign into modern day Mexico.

Response by CPT Ricky Riley made Oct 3 at 2018 3:56 PM

2018-10-03T15:56:46-04:00

I would have loved to have participated in the American Civil War. I would have wanted to belong to the Black Horse Cavalry of Virginia or to belong to Forrest’s Cavalry.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2018 4:47 PM

2018-10-03T16:47:48-04:00

If I have to choose a battle that's already occurred to voluntarily put myself into, I'd have to go with the Battle of Fort Sumter. Why? Zero Casualties.

Response by LTC Stephan Porter made Oct 3 at 2018 5:13 PM

2018-10-03T17:13:53-04:00

Battle of Agincourt (English side)!

Response by MSgt Richard Randall made Oct 3 at 2018 6:10 PM

2018-10-03T18:10:00-04:00

The Whiskey Rebellion!

Response by MSG Greg Kelly made Oct 3 at 2018 6:26 PM

2018-10-03T18:26:39-04:00

You ask good questions Sir. I do not think I would like to go back to any battles the fights I have seen in our time are enough. And those warriors back in time were some rough guys and only got rougher the farther back in time you went. The swords back in Moses day were not really sharp bronze. They hacking away at each other with sword shaped clubs. LOL PASS.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Oct 3 at 2018 6:46 PM

2018-10-03T18:46:43-04:00

I have a few that I would love to go back to and observe:

The Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Agincourt
Gettysburg
Belleau Wood
Tarawa
Battle of the Bulge (to see my grandfather in action)
Iwo Jima
The battle for Hue
The Mayaguez

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Oct 3 at 2018 7:22 PM

2018-10-03T19:22:01-04:00

The last one before lights out.

Response by SPC James Neidig made Oct 3 at 2018 7:57 PM

2018-10-03T19:57:48-04:00

I would have love to be in the cavalry during the civil war ! I was a reanctor and was involved in the movie Gettysburg i also live about 20 minutes form Gettysburg

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 3 at 2018 10:49 PM

2018-10-03T22:49:50-04:00

Although I am curious how I would have done in battle, I doubt that I would enjoy it. I did greatly enjoy water balloon fights with my kids.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Oct 4 at 2018 4:36 PM

2018-10-04T16:36:10-04:00

It is interesting that you picked the picture of the Polish heavy cavalry, the Winged Hussars, the largest cavalry charge in history, at the battle of Vienna in 1683, the battle that stopped the Islamic expansion into Eastern Europe. That is a battle on my top five list that I would like to have witnessed, but defiantly from my slightly cushioned seat in my UH-1 (Huey) Iroquios, out of range of arrows, and the smell, oh man, those battles must have S-M-E-E-E-L-ED bad.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 4 at 2018 4:50 PM

2018-10-04T16:50:07-04:00

CH (MAJ) William Beaver As a Marine, I would have liked to have been part of the Iwo Jima battle. I have also been fascinated by the Battle of Thermopylae and how 300 Spartans along with 6,000 Greeks could hold the Persians at bay for three days. I like history, especially military history, so there are many places that fascinate me. I have been to Gettysburg twice, and can imagine what I would be feeling if I was part of that battle.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Oct 4 at 2018 5:26 PM

2018-10-04T17:26:52-04:00

I'd like to revisit the Cola Wars.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 4 at 2018 5:51 PM

2018-10-04T17:51:29-04:00

in ‘Nam

Response by SPC Phillip Anderson made Oct 6 at 2018 12:08 PM

2018-10-06T12:08:34-04:00

It would have to be Operation Neptune Spear, killing bin Laden.

Response by MSgt Brian Williams made Oct 6 at 2018 12:29 PM

2018-10-06T12:29:30-04:00

Sure. I would have loved to been an A-10 driver at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Response by Sgt James Wall made Oct 12 at 2018 5:27 PM

2018-10-12T17:27:06-04:00

The Sepoy Uprising in India 1857–58. The regiment known as 11th King Edward's Own Lancers (Probyn's Horse) was originally raised on 1 August 1857 by Captain Frederick Wale as Wale's Horse during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and served at Lucknow.

Response by Lt Col John Culley made Oct 12 at 2018 9:02 PM

2018-10-12T21:02:58-04:00

If I could know then what I know now I would have liked to participate in the 1781 Battle of Yorktown during the American Revolution.

Response by 1SG Steven Imerman made Oct 19 at 2018 11:19 AM

2018-10-19T11:19:31-04:00

As a combat engineer, retired, in general I'd be fascinated to watch a Roman Legion go about a siege. In particular, April, 218 BC to August, 216 BC, getting the elephants over the Alps and winning four battles in close succession, culminating in Cannae, with Hannibal.

Response by SFC Robert Strickland made Oct 22 at 2018 9:36 PM

2018-10-22T21:36:53-04:00

I've always been fascinated by the medieval Battle of Agincourt, 25 October 1415, St Crispin's Day. I think I would've liked to have served in King Henry's army as one of the English long bowmen. When I read about the battle I'm enthralled at the tactical ingenuity King Henry V exhibited on that day with the scarce numbers and resources he possessed.

Response by LTC John Bush made Oct 24 at 2018 4:33 PM

2018-10-24T16:33:19-04:00

It is one thing to read, study and imagine historical conflict and quite another to actually participate in a conflict. war is mostly long periods of boredom, misery, disease and discomfort punctuated by moments of stark terror frequently involving great pain and loss. Later some may refer to these event as romantic or glorious but at the time they were not. I have no interest in participation in combat unless necessary for my nations survival. I volunteered for two tours in Vietnam because I believed it was necessary, not fun.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 5 at 2018 2:33 PM

2018-11-05T14:33:13-05:00

I just want to see why one side won the battle.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2018 6:20 AM

2018-11-06T06:20:23-05:00

Battle of Thermopylae

Response by PFC Christopher Quinn made Nov 8 at 2018 5:43 PM

2018-11-08T17:43:55-05:00

Yes. Piracy, The Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWII, Vietnam

Response by CAPT Carlos Flanagan made Nov 10 at 2018 1:19 AM

2018-11-10T01:19:52-05:00

Years ago I thought that I was destined to die in some conflict in some foreign country. Today however, I am happily married with children so no, I am where I am supposed to be in history. I thought that I gave up fame and the glory of the battlefield for family. I struggled at first and for many years but I have found my peace because there is no fame or glory in dying for what some politician deems is a convenient conflict....possibly to deflect attention to their transgressions. I once believed in a higher cause that took us into battle. Now I see that mainly the sons and daughters of blue collar folk are sacrificed. While I believe in our military and how important it is to have strength, I question the use and understanding of that power. For example, if we the military are to be employed, stand back and let us do our job....don't question our might or prevent us from the "win." We used to know that, now, I'm not so sure.

Response by Brad Powers made Nov 12 at 2018 12:09 AM

2018-11-12T00:09:32-05:00

First I'm going to say that i am pretty sure war is absolute hell and i would not wish it upon anybody. Having said that I will say that if i could go back to the 1940s i would definitely want to fly for America and the Allied cause. In other words get some of the luftwaffa. Imagine seeing the world from a bird's-eye for the first time and also fighting for what is right at the same time.

Response by SPC Nate Raetz made Nov 12 at 2018 5:45 PM

2018-11-12T17:45:11-05:00

To be honest, and only if I observed, and not participated. The battle of the Somme, the first one in WW1.
I don't know if it would be smart, since the memories would be horrible.

Response by SSgt Daniel d'Errico made Nov 17 at 2018 1:27 AM

2018-11-17T01:27:20-05:00

Think carefully about this. The different conflicts through out the ages, were really gory in their day. Being dead in any one of them was hard enough on ones life, but think about if you weren't killed. There was salvery, improsonment of the worse kind, torture of every kind, maiming for the littlest infraction and that's the fun stuff for the victors.

Response by CAPT Hiram Patterson made Nov 24 at 2018 10:43 PM

2018-11-24T22:43:59-05:00

In the Civil War fighting with my Mississippi ancestors.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2018 9:45 PM

2018-11-25T21:45:32-05:00

I love that picture of the Winged Hussars! That was an amazing cavalry battle.

The battle I pick would be the battle at Fredericksburg VA during the civil war. If I could have served with any unit, I would have picked the Irish Brigades out of Boston. I had family who was in the civil war as a Major General. He was with USACE. I would have picked the Irish Brigades. I would have chosen them for their gallantry and ability to step and take charge when no one thought they would. If I died in battle tell them I stood and never kneeled.